In an engine having a variable valve timing mechanism to which an intermittent operation control is applied, appropriate execution of a foreign object removal process for the variable valve timing mechanism is enabled. An engine control device (16) which can execute intermittent operation control for an engine (12) having a variable valve timing mechanism (80) comprises a judging part which judges an abnormality in the variable valve timing mechanism (80) (step S10), a foreign object removal process executing part which causes a foreign object removal process to be executed for the variable valve timing mechanism (80) when the judging part judges that there is an abnormality in the variable valve timing mechanism (80) during an engine operation (step S12), and an intermittent operation control prohibiting part which prohibits the intermittent operation control of the engine (12) during execution of the foreign object removal process of the variable valve timing mechanism (80) (step S16).